The Ultimate Good & Evil

Every human action can be interpreted in two equal and opposite ways. In other words, every human act contains an equal amount of good and evil, like two sides of a coin.There are many examples and they can be broadly classified into three categories:-• The first category comprises actions, which are interpreted as good by one section of society but evil by another section of society. The examples are like freedom fighters and terrorists – Bhagat Singh and Rajguru were great freedom fighters for Indians, but were considered terrorists by Britishers. Similarly, giving alms to beggars, feeding street dogs or monkeys may be considered noble acts by one section but a nuisance by another section of society. The examples, like that of setting up factories, dams, mining, etc., in this category, are endless.• The second category comprises actions, which were considered a great virtue at a certain point of time but became a vice or crime with flux of time. Examples in this category are that of sati system, slavery, forcefully marrying a woman after conquering the enemy, caste system, etc. The examples in this category are also endless and we can say many acts which we consider virtuous today, like keeping servants, guards or employees, may become a crime or vice in future, like slavery.• The third category is of actions which are virtuous in one circumstance but are evil or vice in another. The examples in this category are also innumerable and some of them are like non-violence in ordinary circumstances is a virtue, but in case it is used against criminals or the country's enemies, i.e. they are allowed to go unpunished, it becomes a vice. Similarly, speaking the truth is a virtue but if your truth leads to the death or great suffering for another, then the same truth becomes a vice or falsehood. An example is of a dacoit wanting to rob and kill an innocent man who comes and hides in your house and seeks your refuge, and you inform the dacoit truthfully if he asks you about him, then you have not done any good by speaking the truth.From the above examples and discussions, we can conclude that every human action contains an equal amount of good and evil, depending upon the time, circumstance, philosophy, etc.Now, the question enters our mind that if every human action contains an equal amount of good and evil, then how should we conduct ourselves, as no human being can remain idle even for a moment and has to do something or another to earn a living and sustain himself.The answer to this question is that every human being should conduct himself in a manner which is considered acceptable by society or which a society at that given point of time expects from any of its members. A person should try to meet all the reasonable expectations of society and his family members, but always remember in his mind that whatever he is doing is meaningless or all his actions contain an equal amount of good and evil.Another example to explain the matter more clearly is of a person setting up a factory which increases the GDP of a country, generates employment, increases your profit, etc., but on the other hand, causes pollution and diseases in the neighborhood, destroys the natural environment, and causes income disparity.So, from the above discussion, once your mind reaches the conclusion that whatever you are doing is meaningless or it contains an equal amount of good and evil like two sides of a coin, only then will it discover the real meaning of life and all the actions that you do. It will not only become peaceful and balanced but also spread that peace in society.Any act that a person does with great attachment or repulsion in mind, thinking it to be either good or evil, becomes the ultimate evil as it not only disturbs you and entangles you in endless dualities like happiness-sorrow, good-evil, life-death and so on, but also spreads that disturbance across the entire society and your family in the form of your anxiety-depression, anger-fear etc. and any act which you do without any attachment or repulsion, thinking it to be neither good nor evil or thinking that it contains an equal amount good and evil, becomes the ultimate good for you as well as the society, as it not only makes you peaceful and balanced, but also infects the society with that peace and harmony. This is the ultimate good and evil. Sanjay Goel, B-87, Sarvodaya Enclave, New Delhi-110017. Ph:- 011-26536316. E-mail - sanjaygoel321@gmail.com, website : www.sanjaygoel-philosophy.com

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